State jobless rate down to 4 percent in April

Shumlin says number demonstrates 'Vermont is a great place to live and work'

May 17, 2013

Written by

Associated Press

MONTPELIER — Vermontís unemployment rate continues to decline. The seasonally adjusted rate dropped a 10th of a percentage point in April to 4 percent.

Thatís the third lowest in the country. The national average was 7.5 percent, also down a 10th of a percentage point from March.

In the stateís 17 local labor market areas, the non-seasonally adjusted rates for April ranged from 2.9 percent in the Hartford area to 7.3 percent in Newport.

Labor Commissioner Annie Noonan says the state needs to keep up its job training efforts to keep its workforce more resilient against future economic downturns.

Gov. Peter Shumlin called the rate drop great news.

ďThe unemployment rate traditionally fluctuates, but this steady decline reflects what Iím hearing from employers as I travel the state ó that they are looking for skilled workers to fill their job openings. Vermontís 4 percent unemployment rate, 3.5 points lower than the national rate, makes clear that Vermont is a great place to live and work,Ē he said.